By Matthew Harold

Ally McCoist’s side stretch their advantage at the top of the Third Division to 22 points over their Glasgow rivals after going goal crazy in the second period

A double from Andy Little along with goals from Ian Black and Dean Shiels saw Rangers add to their advantage at the top of the Third Division by defeating second-placed Queen’s Park.

The Ibrox side now find themselves 22 points ahead of their Glasgow neighbours as they march towards the league title.

The home side made three changes from the side that were dumped out of the Scottish Cup at the hands of Dundee United, with Sebastien Faure, Ross Perry and Francisco Sandaza all dropping out to be replaced by Chris Hegarty, Barrie McKay and Anestis Argyriou.

Queen’s Park made two changes from the side that drew with Anann Athletic last Saturday, with Anthony Quinn and Blair Spittal coming in for Paul Gallacher and Sean Burns.

Rangers looked to get off to an early start and could have taken the lead when Shiels played a through ball to Little, he managed to shrug off the challenge of Spiders defender Ricky Little, but his strike went just wide.

Next up for the league leaders was David Templeton, as the winger picked up the ball on the edge of the area and curled it towards goal, but it went just wide of Neil Parry’s left-hand post.

The Queen’s Park keeper was called into action again minutes later after a super passing move involving Ian Black and Little, saw the ball eventually arrive at the feet of Shiels, whose strike from the edge of the area was saved by Parry.

Queen’s Park had a pair of chances to take the lead, but both Spittal and Aidan Connolly failed to find a way past Neil Alexander in the Rangers goal.

As the game approached the break, Rangers started to intensify the pressure, with Emilson Cribari heading a Templeton free kick off the post, then Black having a strike cleared off the line after a corner from the winger.

Parry then made a double save to close out the half, with both Shiels and Templeton having efforts from inside the area saved by the Queen’s Park keeper to keep the sides level.

The opener eventually came five minutes into the second half, as Barrie McKay raced down the left wing and his cross was volleyed beyond Parry by Black for his first goal for the club.

Ally McCoist’s side continued to press forward, with Templeton gaining possession midway inside the visitors half and moving forward, before unleashing a strike that went just wide of goal.

A great counterattacking move saw Rangers claim their second as Hutton found Shiels wide on the right of the box and he played it to Little, who from close range made no mistake, tapping the ball into the net.

The victory was sealed as Lee Wallace marched down the left wing, cutting inside and playing the ball to Shiels, who from six yards out rolled the ball beyond Parry and into the back of the net.

Late on Rangers claimed their fourth as Little got his second of the game after a ball from Wallace to seal what was a rout.